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Heida Diefenderfer

Heida Diefenderfer

(360) 681-3619

Biography

Dr. Heida Diefenderfer is a restoration ecologist with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) Coastal Assessment and Restoration group at the Marine Sciences Laboratory in Sequim, Washington. She conducts research and restoration in a variety of coastal and riverine ecosystems, in particular floodplain wetlands and eelgrass meadows. Currently, she is participating in research and adaptive management for the recovery of Endangered Species Act-listed fish and birds and monitoring the effectiveness of habitat restoration actions. She earned her doctorate in 2007 from the University of Washington, College of Forest Resources, with research focusing on tidal Sitka spruce swamps of the lower Columbia River floodplain. Dr. Diefenderfer pursued forest ecology at Reed College (B.A., Biology, 1991) and Native American studies and writing at The Evergreen State College (B.A. Liberal Arts, 1997). She also holds an M.A. in English from Western Washington University (1999). Since 1990, she has performed research and writing for many governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations in the areas of ecosystem conservation and restoration, sustainable forest and fisheries management, and the recovery of threatened and endangered species.

Education and Credentials

  • B.A. Biology (minor: Cognitive Science), Reed College, 1991
  • B.A. Liberal Arts (Native American Studies/Professional Writing), The Evergreen State College, 1997
  • M.A. English, Western Washington University, 1999
  • Ph.D. Forest Resources (Ecosystem Analysis), University of Washington, 2007

Affiliations and Professional Service

  • Ecological Society of America
  • Society for Ecological Restoration International
  • American Geophysical Union

PNNL Publications

2024

  • Romanelli J., M. Piana, V. Klaus, P. Brancalion, C. Murcia, F. Cardou, and K. Wallas, et al. 2024. "Convergence and divergence in science and practice of urban and rural forest restoration." Biological Reviews 99, no. 1:295-312. PNNL-SA-189549. doi:10.1111/brv.13022

2023

  • Brand M.W., H.L. Diefenderfer, J.E. O'Connor, A.B. Borde, D.A. Jay, A. Al-Bahadily, and M.A. McKeon, et al. 2023. "Impacts of a Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake on Water Levels and Wetlands of the Lower Columbia River and Estuary." Geophysical Research Letters 50, no. 14:Art. No. e2023GL103017. PNNL-SA-181915. doi:10.1029/2023GL103017
  • Greening H., K.L. Heck, L.D. Mckinney, H.L. Diefenderfer, W.R. Boynton, B.A. Kleiss, and D.R. Mishra, et al. 2023. "Assessing the effectiveness of large-scale environmental restoration: challenges and opportunities." Estuaries and Coasts 46, no. 2:293-301. PNNL-SA-179798. doi:10.1007/s12237-022-01149-8
  • Talke S.A., D.A. Jay, and H.L. Diefenderfer. 2023. "Warming of the Willamette River, 1850-present: the effects of climate change and river system alterations." Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 27, no. 14:2807-2826. PNNL-SA-176975. doi:10.5194/hess-27-2807-2023
  • Templeton W., D.A. Jay, H.L. Diefenderfer, and S.A. Talke. 2023. "Shallow-Water Habitat in the Lower Columbia River Estuary: A Highly Altered System." Estuaries and Coasts 47. PNNL-SA-186373. doi:10.1007/s12237-023-01229-3

2022

  • Diefenderfer H.L., L.D. McKinney, W.R. Boynton, K.L. Heck, B.A. Kleiss, D.R. Mishra, and H. Greening, et al. 2022. "Ten Years of Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Projects Since the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) 119, no. 38:e2213639119. PNNL-SA-175825. doi:10.1073/pnas.2213639119
  • Littles C., J.P. Karnezis, K. Blauvelt, A. Creason, H.L. Diefenderfer, G.E. Johnson, and L. Krasnow, et al. 2022. "Adaptive Management of Large-Scale Ecosystem Restoration: Increasing Certainty of Habitat Outcomes in the Columbia River Estuary, USA." Restoration Ecology 30, no. 8:Art. No. e13634. PNNL-SA-169976. doi:10.1111/rec.13634
  • Roychowdhury T., L.M. Bramer, J.M. Brown, Y. Kim, E.M. Zink, T.O. Metz, and L. McCue, et al. 2022. "Soil metabolomics predict microbial taxa as biomarkers of moisture status in soils from a tidal wetland." Microorganisms 10, no. 8:Art. No. 1653. PNNL-SA-172681. doi:10.3390/microorganisms10081653

2021

  • Bidlack A., S. Bisbing, B. Buma, H.L. Diefenderfer, J. Fellman, W. Floyd, and I. Giesbrecht, et al. 2021. "Climate-Mediated Changes to Linked Terrestrial and Marine Ecosystems across the Northeast Pacific Coastal Temperate Rainforest Margin." BioScience 71, no. 6:581-595. PNNL-SA-144134. doi:10.1093/biosci/biaa171
  • Diefenderfer H.L., A.B. Borde, and V.I. Cullinan. 2021. "Floodplain Wetland Channel Planform, Cross-Sectional Morphology, and Sediment Characteristics Along an Estuarine to Tidal River Gradient." Journal of Geophysical Research. Earth Surface 126, no. 5:e2019JF005391. PNNL-SA-128884. doi:10.1029/2019JF005391
  • Diefenderfer H.L., G.D. Steyer, M.C. Harwell, A.J. Loschiavo, H.A. Neckles, D.M. Burdick, and G.E. Johnson, et al. 2021. "Applying cumulative effects to strategically advance large-scale ecosystem restoration." Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 19, no. 2:108-117. PNNL-SA-144525. doi:10.1002/fee.2274
  • Sinks I.A., A.B. Borde, H.L. Diefenderfer, and J.P. Karnezis. 2021. "Assessment of Methods to Control Invasive Reed Canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) in Tidal Freshwater Wetlands." Natural Areas Journal 41, no. 3:172-185. PNNL-SA-149371. doi:10.3375/043.041.0303

2020

  • Borde A.B., H.L. Diefenderfer, V.I. Cullinan, S.A. Zimmerman, and R.M. Thom. 2020. "Ecohydrology of wetland plant communities along an estuarine to tidal river gradient." Ecosphere 11, no. 9:e03185. PNNL-SA-140497. doi:10.1002/ecs2.3185
  • Kauffman J., L. Giovanonni, J. Kelly, N.G. Dunstan, A.B. Borde, H.L. Diefenderfer, and C. Cornu, et al. 2020. "Total ecosystem carbon stocks at the marine-terrestrial interface: Blue carbon of the Pacific Northwest Coast, United States." Global Change Biology 26, no. 10:5679-5692. PNNL-SA-155404. doi:10.1111/gcb.15248
  • Ward N.D., P. Megonigal, B. Bond-Lamberty, V.L. Bailey, D. Butman, E. Canuel, and H.L. Diefenderfer, et al. 2020. "Representing the Function and Sensitivity of Coastal Interfaces in Earth System Models." Nature Communications 11. PNNL-SA-147328. doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16236-2

2018

  • Diefenderfer H.L., I. Sinks, S.A. Zimmerman, V.I. Cullinan, and A.B. Borde. 2018. "Designing Topographic Heterogeneity for Tidal Wetland Restoration." Ecological Engineering 123. PNNL-SA-130408. doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2018.07.027
  • Diefenderfer H.L., V.I. Cullinan, A.B. Borde, C.M. Gunn, and R.M. Thom. 2018. "High-Frequency Greenhouse Gas Flux Measurement System Detects Winter Storm Surge Effects on Salt Marsh." Global Change Biology 24, no. 12:5961-5971. PNNL-SA-135874. doi:10.1111/gcb.14430
  • Roy Chowdhury T., L.M. Bramer, D.W. Hoyt, Y. Kim, T.O. Metz, L. McCue, and H.L. Diefenderfer, et al. 2018. "Temporal dynamics of CO2 and CH4 loss potentials in response to rapid hydrological shifts in tidal freshwater wetland soils." Ecological Engineering 114. PNNL-SA-123359. doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.06.041

2016

  • Diefenderfer H.L., G.E. Johnson, R.M. Thom, K.E. Buenau, L.A. Weitkamp, C.M. Woodley, and A.B. Borde, et al. 2016. "Evidence-based Evaluation of the Cumulative Effects of Ecosystem Restoration." Ecosphere 7, no. 3:e01242. PNNL-SA-104585. doi:10.1002/ecs2.1242
  • Jay D.A., A.B. Borde, and H.L. Diefenderfer. 2016. "Tidal-Fluvial and Estuarine Processes in the Lower Columbia River: II. Water Level Models, Floodplain Wetland Inundation, and System Zones." Estuaries and Coasts 39, no. 5:1299-1324. PNNL-SA-123352. doi:10.1007/s12237-016-0082-4

2015

  • Coleman A.M., H.L. Diefenderfer, D.L. Ward, and A.B. Borde. 2015. "A Spatially Based Area-Time Inundation Index Model Developed to Assess Habitat Opportunity in Tidal-Fluvial Wetlands and Restoration Sites." Ecological Engineering 82. PNNL-SA-98413. doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.05.006
  • Diefenderfer H.L. 2015. "Coastal Conservation." Marine Biology Research 11, no. 4:446-448. PNNL-SA-107702. doi:10.1080/17451000.2014.999095
  • Jay D.A., K. Leffler, H.L. Diefenderfer, and A.B. Borde. 2015. "Tidal-Fluvial and Estuarine Processes in the Lower Columbia River: I. Along-channel Water Level Variations, Pacific Ocean to Bonneville Dam." Estuaries and Coasts 38, no. 2:415-433. PNNL-SA-98787. doi:10.1007/s12237-014-9819-0
  • Tian B., Y. Zhou, R.M. Thom, H.L. Diefenderfer, and Q. Yuan. 2015. "Detecting wetland changes in Shanghai, China using FORMOSAT and Landsat TM imagery." Journal of Hydrology 529, no. Part 1:1-10. PNNL-SA-112617. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.07.007

2012

  • Diefenderfer H.L., G.E. Johnson, J.R. Skalski, S.A. Breithaupt, and A.M. Coleman. 2012. "Application of the Diminishing Returns Concept in the Hydroecologic Restoration of Riverscapes." Landscape Ecology 27, no. 5:671-682. PNNL-SA-66973. doi:10.1007/s10980-012-9713-8
  • Thom R.M., H.L. Diefenderfer, J. Vavrinec, and A.B. Borde. 2012. "Restoring Resiliency: Case Studies from Pacific Northwest Estuarine Eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) Ecosystems." Estuaries and Coasts 35, no. 1:78-91. PNNL-SA-68902. doi:10.1007/s12237-011-9430-6

2011

  • Diefenderfer H.L., R.M. Thom, G.E. Johnson, J.R. Skalski, K.A. Vogt, B.D. Ebberts, and G.C. Roegner, et al. 2011. "A Levels-of-Evidence Approach for Assessing Cumulative Ecosystem Response to Estuary and River Restoration Programs." Ecological Restoration 29, no. 1-2:111-132. PNNL-SA-55734.
  • Thom R.M., H.L. Diefenderfer, J.E. Adkins, C. Judd, M.G. Anderson, K.E. Buenau, and A.B. Borde, et al. 2011. "Guidelines, processes and tools for coastal ecosystem restoration, with examples from the United States." Plankton & Benthos Research 5, no. Supplement:185-201. PNNL-SA-73076. doi:10.3800/pbr.5.185

2009

  • Diefenderfer H.L., K.L. Sobocinski, R.M. Thom, C.W. May, A.B. Borde, S.L. Southard, and J. Vavrinec, et al. 2009. "Multiscale Analysis of Restoration Priorities for Marine Shoreline Planning." Environmental Management 44, no. 4:712-731. PNWD-SA-8063. doi:10.1007/s00267-009-9298-4

2008

  • Diefenderfer H.L., A.M. Coleman, A.B. Borde, and I.A. Sinks. 2008. "Hydraulic Geometry and Microtopography of Tidal Freshwater Forested Wetlands and Implications for Restoration, Columbia River, U.S.A." International Journal of Ecohydrology & Hydrobiology 8, no. 2-4:339-361. PNNL-SA-59093. doi:10.2478/v10104-009-0027-7
  • Diefenderfer H.L., and D.R. Montgomery. 2008. "Pool spacing, channel morphology, and the restoration of tidal forested wetlands of the Columbia River, U.S.A." Restoration Ecology 17, no. 1:158-168. PNNL-SA-55592. doi:10.1111/j.1526-100X.2008.00449.x

2005

  • Diefenderfer H.L., R.M. Thom, and K. Hofseth. 2005. "A Framework for Risk Analysis for Ecological Restoration Projects in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers." In Economics and Ecological Risk Assessment: Applications to Watershed Management, Environmental and Ecological Risk Assessment Series, edited by Randall J. F. Bruins, Matthew T. Heberling. 57-105. Boca Raton, Florida:CRC Press. PNNL-SA-37959.
  • Thom R.M., G.D. Williams, and H.L. Diefenderfer. 2005. "Balancing the Need to Develop Coastal Areas with the Desire for an Ecologically Functioning Coastal Environment: Is Net Ecosystem Improvement Possible?." Restoration Ecology 13, no. 1:193-203. PNWD-SA-6354. doi:10.1111/j.1526-100X.2005.00024.x

2004

  • Diefenderfer H.L., S.L. Sargeant, R.M. Thom, A.B. Borde, P.F. Gayaldo, C.A. Curtis, and B.L. Court, et al. 2004. "Demonstration Dock Designed to Benefit Eelgrass Habitat Restoration (Washington)." Ecological Restoration 22, no. 2:140-141. PNWD-SA-6315.

2003

  • Diefenderfer H.L., S.L. Sargeant, R.M. Thom, A.B. Borde, P.F. Gayaldo, C.A. Curtis, and B.L. Court, et al. 2003. "Dock Design to Facilitate the Restoration of Eelgrass in Port Townsend Bay, Washington." In Assembling the Pieces - Restoration, Design and Landscape Ecology: Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Society for Ecological Restoration International, November 19-22, 2003, Austin, Texas. Tucson, Arizona:Society for Ecological Restoration International. PNWD-SA-6035.
  • Sargeant S.L., R.M. Thom, H.L. Diefenderfer, A.B. Borde, and J.A. Southard. 2003. "Evaluation of Methods to Increase Light under Large Overwater Structures." In 2003 Georgia Basin/Puget Sound Research Conference Proceedings, Vancouver, BC, March 31 - April 3, 2003, edited by TW Droscher and DA Fraser. Olympia, Washington:Puget Sound Action Team. PNNL-SA-37320.
  • Southard J.A., G.D. Williams, S.L. Sargeant, H.L. Diefenderfer, and M.L. Blanton. 2003. "Using Advanced Scientific Diving Technologies to Assess the Underwater Environment." In 2003 Georgia Basin/Puget Sound Research Conference Proceedings, Vancouver, BC, March 31 - April 3, 2003, edited by TW Droscher and DA Fraser. Olympia, Washington:Puget Sound Action Team. PNNL-SA-37344.

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